SANSYOU, TRUE NORTH COAST

David Nicholas’ guitar-focused project Sansyou is back with another thrilling instrumental album, this time a reflection on our own driving forces and inner compasses, called True North Coast. It is five tracks and a remix: a pleasant surprise, for anyone who heard and enjoyed his first album, Eyes Front. Once again he dives deep emotionally, psychically, and offers music to soundtrack our lonely nights, our two hour car trip to the beach, or even something that they could play in a coffee shop to create a welcoming mood.

The song “Prove a Point” starts the album with a post-rock attack, fitting for its name. Nothing on this album is too forceful, though; it is music, expertly crafted, that suggests, rather than directs. While some instrumental music seems to lack a signature melody or song construction, all of Sansyou’s music has a catchy and memorable skeleton of guitar work, fleshed out by the players, John Mark King (keyboards, percussion), Scott Gould (percussion, loops), Michael Blank (bass), and Failure’s Kelli Scott (drums).